Department of Communications and Languages at WWU. His book Coal Wars was published in 2014 and recounts a 1930s violent labor conflict in Roslyn, Wash. In 2015 David received the WWU President’s Award for Excellence in Research. Gertrude “Trudie” Comm ’76 lives in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, where she worked as an intensive care unit nurse until retiring in 2014 to look after her mother. After graduation, Trudie worked in Portland for two years and then went to Malamulo Mission Hospital in Malawi, Africa, where she taught and worked in administration and as a general nurse for seven years. Some of Trudie’s favorite memories of her time in college are of vespers, dorm worships, and the camaraderie of early-morning work shifts in the college laundry. Lorraine (Malott) Craik ’77 and her husband, James ’74, call Kotzebue, Alaska, home. Lorraine is an office administrator for the Alaska State Troopers. She and James have three children: Jeremy att., Jessica Coffee ’03, and Everett att. Her best memories of WWU are of meeting her husband and singing with Schola Cantorum, directed by Harold Lickey. Judi (Light) Dear ’71 and her husband, Tom, live in Washington, N.C., and have three children: Dennis Murray, Serena, and Jared. Judi has had a diverse career devoted largely to education and ministry. She has been a teacher and a librarian in addition to holding various pastoral positions. Tom and Judi have a passion for drama and have been involved in writing, directing, and acting in productions. After closing a wedding officiant business, Judi has returned to painting and writing songs. Her favorite WWU memories are of the friends she made. Evensong and Conard Hall worships with Helen Evans were also highlights. She remembers in particular singing “Softly Now the Light of Day” and reciting “Whatsoever things are beautiful… .” She fondly remembers hiking, bicycling, and visiting Whitman Mission. She enjoyed her professors, especially Dr. Litke, Lucille Knapp, and J. Paul Grove, whom she found to genuinely care about their students. David Fuller ’76 lives in Vancouver, Wash., where he is president, owner, and director of Hamilton-Mylan Funeral Home. In 1977, David was certified as an eye enucleator and
is a volunteer enucleator at the Lions Eye Bank. He began working in funeral services during college When he looks back at his time at WWU, David remembers playing roller hockey in the old gym and auditorium with Dean Loewen. Hunting and fishing are among David’s hobbies today. Gary Garvin ’76 and his wife, Virginia, live in Goldendale, Wash., and have four children: Daniel att., Deborah Brown att., Christopher, and Carin att. Gary is the ranch manager for Project Patch, an organization that specializes in teen recovery. He taught for 27 years in the Oregon Conference. Among his life-changing moments, he counts being diagnosed with chronic leukemia 16 years ago. “Praise God He must have more for me to do,” says Gary. Of his time at WWU, he fondly remembers the “joy of studying and learning new things.” He enjoys backpacking, skiing, photography, and gardening. David Glenn ’76 and his wife, Tomi, reside in Chehalis, Wash., where he is a pastor at the Chehalis Seventh-day Adventist Church. He and Tomi have pastored together in Washington, New Mexico, and Michigan, and have gone on a number of Maranatha trips. “We love music and books and travel and family,” he says. When looking back at his time at WWU, David cherishes memories of making great friends, enjoying concerts, singing with the choir, and
taking music classes. “Walla Walla sweet onions are still favorites,” he says. David and Tomi have two children: David and Lisa Scalfani. They are also blessed with five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. In May 2015, David finished a master’s degree in pastoral ministry. Loretta (Polishuk) Johnson ’76 lives in Gwynne, Alberta, Canada, with her husband, Phil. “I thoroughly enjoyed my Social Work studies, especially classes from Dr. Hepker,”
writes Loretta. “I participated in as many sports activities as possible [during college] and have a lot of fond memories of fun gatherings at Foreman Hall.” Loretta retired in 2010 after 33 years of employment with Alberta Health Services. With the support of five consultants, she managed 44 nonprofit agencies, which contracted to deliver addictions services across the province. “I had the opportunity to lead the development of some specialized addictions services for women, problem gambling programs, and housing support services,” she says. After retirement, she was executive director of a women’s shelter for families escaping domestic violence. Loretta and Phil have a daughter, Brittney, and a son, Jay. Bev (Petersen) Scott ’71 and her husband, Martin ’74, live in College Place, Wash. Bev recently retired after working at WWU for more than 25 years, mostly in academic administration. She and Martin have two sons: Rudy ’02 and Jesse ’05. Bev and Martin ran a home-based computer business for 15 years when their children were young. Her hobbies include reading, walking, and enjoying time with her grandson. Some of Bev’s favorite memories of her time as a student at WWU were of working for J. Paul Grove in the School of Theology and meeting Martin in one of Dr. Grove’s classes. Bev says, “While we were dating, Elder Grove also hired Marty, stipulating that we were not to both work in his office at the same time!”
1980s
Twyla (Leiske) Bechtel ’81 and her husband Stanley ’84 live College Place where she currently serves the WWU Alumni Association as manager of the Havstad Alumni Center. Previously in her career, Twyla has operated various
private sales businesses. She enjoys spending time with her family and adventuring with them on mission trips. “My joy is in the journey as I navigate with God guiding me,” she says. Twyla’s favorite memories as a university student include aquatics class and “the adventure of learning to canoe, kayak, sail, and surf with teachers Claude Barnett and John Waterbrook.” She also fondly remembers serving as ASWWC president during the 1980–81 school year and working as a student in the offices of the WWU president and the vice president for academic administration. Doug Iwasa ’86 and his wife, Angela, live in Ontario, Ore., with their son, Seth. After graduating from WWU, Doug began a long career in mental health social work. He is now an agent in the insurance industry. In addition to outdoor recreation and family activities, Doug has served on the board of directors for the Ontario school district, has worked with the Cub Scouts, and has been a member of the Kiwanis Club for 20 years. Some of Doug’s favorite memories during his time at WWU are of being a resident assistant in Sittner Hall and sitting on student senate with Jon Fish ’86 and “managing his comments.” Michelle (Woodbury) Jones ’86 and her husband, Gregory ’86, reside in Milpitas, Calif., with their son, Isaac. Michelle has worked with Lockheed Martin Space Systems since 1989 and is now a senior-ranking software engineer with the company. Her work allows her to combine astronomy and software, both of which she enjoys very much. “I never dreamed my electrical engineering degree would lead in that direction,” she said. She and her family love spending time outdoors—especially hiking at Mt. Rainier. “Doing the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainer was a oncein-a-lifetime journey,” she says. She donates many hours to Boy Scouts encouraging STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) studies and future engineers. While a student at WWU, Michelle fondly remembers getting “busted” for programming all night at Kretschmar Hall and the support and encouragement of professors Jon Cole and Carlton Cross. “My favorite memories are of the Saturday night programs. They had lots of variety and didn’t
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